Divider structure for drawers, trays and the like



Jan. 4, 1966 J. c. DUNHAM DIVIDER STRUCTURE FOR DRAWERS, TRAYS AND THE LIKE Filed June 1'7, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

% TORNEYS Jan. 4, 1966 J. c. DUNHAM 3,227,504

DIVIDER STRUCTURE FOR DRAWERS, TRAYS AND THE LIKE Filed June 1'7, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. C. Dan/2am BY I T T ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,227,504 DIVIDER STRUCTURE FOR DRAWERS, TRAYS AND THE LIKE John C. Dunham, Aurora, 111., assignor to Aurora Equipment Company, Aurora, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Filed June 17, 1963, Ser. No. 292,515 14 Claims. (Cl. 312 234.4)

The present invention relates generally to a parts drawer divider for use in a parts drawer or tray. The divider is adapted to be secured in removable assembly with the parts drawer and can be secured with the parts drawer in various adapted positions.

In the past, difliculty has been experienced in removing small metal parts, such as nuts and bolts, from parts drawers, for the parts stored tend to engage with the side walls of the compartment in which they are stored, in such a way as to resist removal. According to the present invention, the divider has a scoop-shaped lower end which is engaged on opposite sides with the side walls of the parts drawer and is also engaged in the bottom of the parts drawer. Where parts are stored within a compartment, which is defined at least on one side by the aforesaid divider, the parts can be readily removed from the compartment along the ramp or curved surface provided by the scoop-shaped lower end of the divider.

It is, therefore, an important object ofthis invention to provide a new and improved divider fora parts bin or drawer whereby parts can be more readily removed therefrom.

According to an important feature of the present invention, a new and improved divider has been developed having a scoop-shaped lower end for engagement with a bottom and side walls of a parts drawer to enable parts to be morereadily removed from the bin or drawer.

According to the other features of this invention, the divider has means for securing indicia to an upper end of the divider as well as means at opposite sides of the divider for securing the divider in fixed assembly with a bin or drawer.

With certain types of drawers or parts bins difficulty has been experienced in the assembly of dividers having scoop-shaped ends because the scoop or curved end must be moved between guides to effect assembly.

To solve this problem and according to important features of my invention I have provided a new and improved fiexible divider having a resilient scoop-shaped end which can be flexed for ready assembly between side walls of a parts bin or drawer.

Still another object of this'invention is to provide a spring steel parts bin divider having a flexible end which normally has a scoop contour, but which can be flexed into an essentially flat form while being assembled be tween side walls of a drawer and which will snap back into original or normal shape upontthe completion of the assembly of the divider with the drawer.

Other objects and features of this invention will become more fully apparent from the following detailed description when taken:in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary parts bin or drawer;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section taken substantially on the lines IIII looking in the direction indicated by the arrows;

FIGURE 3is an enlarged fragmentary view of a side wall of the bin illustrating in dotted lines the relationship of the divider with respect thereto;

FIGURE 3a is a fragmentary rear view of the divider;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of a modified type of a parts bin divider; 1 r

Patented Jan. 4, 1966 FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of a modified type of parts bin or drawer;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical view with parts shown in section taken substantially on the line VI-VI looking in the direction indicated by the arrows as seen in FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 7 is a vertical fragmentary section taken substantially on the line VIIVII looking in the direction indicated by the arrows as seen in FIGURE 6 and with the divider being shown in full and dotted lines;

FIGURE 8 is a horizontal section taken substantially on the line VIIIVIII looking in the direction indicated by the arrows as seen in FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 9 is a perspective view of a modified type of divider;

FIGURElO is a vertical section similar to FIGURE 2 only illustrating the divider shown in FIGURE 9;

FIGURE 11 is a perspective View of still another type of divider; and

FIGURE 12 is an enlarged fragmentary view similar to FIGURE 6 only illustrating the divider shown in FIG- URE 11.

As shown on the drawings:

The reference numeral 10 indicates generally a parts bin or drawer for a bottom 11, front and rear walls 12 and 13, and side walls 14 and 15. The drawer 10 may be formed in any suitable manner, butris preferably provided with a handle 16 that is integral with the front wall 12. The drawer 10 may be manufactured from any suitable material, but excellent results can be obtained from using steel.

According to my invention, I have provided a new and improved divider 17 which is manufactured from steel, and preferably a spring-type steel. The divider 17 includes a main body portion 18 which is secured with a scoop-shaped lower end portion 19. The end portion 19 is inclined and angularly ofiset with respect to the main body portion 18 and coacts with the main body portion 18 in such a way that metal parts can be readily moved up the scoop or ramp surface and removed from the drawer 10. Where the central portion of the scoop-shaped lower end portion 19 is of a relatively flat construction, arcuate and flat end portions 20 and 21 are provided. The arcuate portion 20 is disposed at the juncture of the main body portion 18 and the lower end portion 19. The lower flat portion 21 is engaged with the bottom 11 of the drawer 10 to provide a firm support for the divider.

The main body portion 18 of the divider 17 has an indicia bearing structure 22 at its upper end which in the illustrated form comprises an angular strip of metal which is secured at its lower end 23 to the main body portion 18 by means of a series of welds 24. The structure 22 further includes an inclined indicia flange 25, and a series of embossings 26 are formed thereon for securing an indicia bearing card 27 on the divider.

Disposed along opposite sides of the divider 1'7 and more particularly on opposite sides of the main body portion 18, is a pair of attachment flanges 28. These flanges extend away from the main body portion 18 on the same side of the divider at generally right angles.

The side walls 14 and 15 of the drawer 10 are provided with a series of longitudinally spaced slots 29, which are each defined by a pair of struck-out protrusions 30 and 31. The slots are formed on the side walls so a to confront one another and to enable the divider, when mounted in the drawer, to be disposed at right angles with respect to the side Walls 14 and 15. The main body attachment flange 28 is engaged with right angular surface 31a of the protrusion 31 to resist transverse as well as longitudinal movement of the divider. The attachment flanges 28 and the divider 17 can only be removed from the drawer by causing the divider to be moved in a vertical direction away from the bottom 11.

In order to permit the attachment flanges to move freely within the slots, the width of the divider immediately below the flanges 28 is less than the width between the flanges 28. FIGURE 3a illustrates how the flanges 28 may be offset to one side of the side edges of the scoop 19 to aflord the necessary clearance.

Shown in FIGURE 4 is a modified type of divider in dicated generally at 37. The divider 37 includes a main body portion 33 having a scoop-shaped lower end. portion 39 and an angled indicia bearing upper end portion 41 which terminates in a return bent flange 42. Mounted on the flange 41 is an angular plate 43 having a flat plate portion 43a secured to the upper end portion 41 by means of a series of welds 44. The angled plate 43a has a return bent flange 45 for cooperation with the return bent flange 42 for holding a card on the indicia support structure just described.

The divider 37 can be assembled with a drawer of the type shown at in FIGURE 1 in the same manner as previously described. To this end, the divider 38 has its angled side flanges positioned for ready engagement within slots such as are shown at 29 in FIGURE 3. The divider 38 further has recessed areas 46, 46 disposed immediately below the attachment flanges 40, which recessed areas have a vertical dimension at least slightly in excess of the dimension of the slot 29 so that the struckout protrusions and 31 can be freely lodged within the recessed areas 46, 46 whereby the attachment flanges 40, can be readily engaged within and disengaged from the slots 29, 29.

The reference numeral 50 indicates a parts bin or drawer which is generally of the type shown in the Richard W. Sitler US. Patent No. 2,897,997. This drawer includes a bottom 51, side walls 52, 53' and front and rear walls 54 and. 55. The side walls are provided with a series of longitudinally spaced transversely aligned centering guides 56. These guides, as illustrated, comprise embossings which project into the interior of the drawer 50. Disposed between the guides 56 is a series of vertical grooves 56a. Also located between the guides 56 is a seriesof pressed out rounded dimples or extensions 57. The extensions are transversely aligned between opposite side walls 52, 53 of the drawer. The structure thus far described. in connection with the drawer 50, is shown in the aforesaid Sitler patent.

According to my invention, I have developed a new and improved scoop-shaped parts bin and divider 60. My divider 60 is preferably made from a resilient metal and excellent results may be obtained where spring steel is employed. My divider has a vertically extending main body portion 61 having a scoop-shaped lower end portion 62 and an angled indicia bearing upper end portion 63. The portion 62 has arcuate and flat or terminal portions 62a and 62b at opposite ends the same as the divider 17.

An indicia bearing card 64 is mounted on an upper end of the divider 60 and is secured thereon by means of a return bent flange 65 overlying upper end portion 63 as well as by a pair of spaced struckout upturned flanges 66, 66 which also overlie the angled upper end portion 63. The card may be mounted on the angled upper end portion 63 by sliding the card beneath the outer ends of the flange 65' and outer ends of the flanges 66, 66.

In order to mount the divider 60between the side walls 52 and. 53, the divider is provided with a pair of indentations or notches 67 which have a configuration corresponding to the shape of the dimples or extensions 57 for nested engagement therewith. The divider 60 can be assembled with the drawer 50 in much the same manner as shown in the Sitler patent except that the scoop-shaped lower end portion 62 is caused to be flexed into essentially flat form as it is moved between the guides 56, 56 on each of the side walls 52 and 53, as shown by the dotted lines in FIGURE 6. After the lowermost end of the lower end portion 62 is disposed beneath the guides 56, the lower end portion, by reason of the resiliency of the spring metal, is returnedto a normal curve or scoopshape and engages with the bottom 51 of the drawer. By providing the divider with a flexible scoop-shaped lower end portion of the type herein described, the divider can be more readily assembled with prior types of parts bin drawers which have already been sold. as well as new drawers which are currently being manufactured. The scoop-shaped lower end also serves to enable the user of the drawer to more readily remove the contents of the drawer by manually drawing the contents vertically along the curved contour of the lower end portion of the divider.

When the divider 60 is in assembly with the drawer 50, the extensions 57 are engaged within the divider notches 67 to hold the divider against vertical displacement and to insure that the lower end portion 62 is engaged upon the drawer bottom 51. The guides 56, 56 at each side wall serve to prevent longitudinal movement, of the divider 60.

Excellent results may be obtained by manufacturing the divider 17, shown in FIGURE 2, from steel such as from cold-rolled sheets. The divider shown in FIGURE 6 is preferably made from a spring steel and excellent results :are obtainable where the steel is a thickness of .010 to .015.

Illustrated in FIGURES 9 and 10 is a modified divider 17. The divider 17' is identical to the divider 17 only the divider shown in FIGURES 9 and 10 isof a one piece construction. In this instance, the divider 17 is provided with indicia bearing structure 22 which is integral and formed as a part of main body portion 18.. In FIG- URE 10, the divider 17 is illustrated in assembly with the parts bin or drawer 10 which is identical to the bin 10 previously described.

Shown in FIGURES 11 and 12 is a one-piece divider 60' which is similar to the divider 60 except that this divider has been provided with an indicia bearing flange 63' that is positioned on the same side of main body portion 61' with a resiliently flexible scoop-shaped lower end portion 62'. The divider 60 is useable with a parts bin or drawer 50 which is identical to the drawer previously described and illustrated in FIGURES 5-8, inclusive. The scoop-shaped lower end portion 62 is adapted to flex as its opposite edges are moved vertically between guides 56, 56 until the scoop-shaped lower end portion moves below the guides whereupon the-lower end portion 62' snaps back into its original scoop-shape. By angling the indicia bearing flange 60 on the same side of the main body portion 61' with the scoop-shaped lower end portion 62', the operator can withdraw nuts and bolts from the drawer along the divider surfaces 62, 61', and 60'. It will, therefore, be appreciated that with adivider of this type, the indicia bearing flange 60 provides means for assisting in the removal of parts from the parts drawer 50.

Although minor modifications might be suggested by those versed in the art, it should be understood that I wish to embody within the scope of the patent warranted hereon, all such modifications as reasonably and properly come within the scope of my contribution to the art.

I claim as my invention:

1. A parts bin divider comprised of a thin gauge material of essentially uniform thickness including a vertically extending main body portion having a scoop-shaped lower end portion provided on its lower end providing an upwardly inclined surface over which parts may be dragged prior to being engaged with the main body portion, an angled indicia bearing upper end portion provided on its upper end and angled flanges turned away from opposite side edges of said main body portion for engagement in a slot on a parts bin, said scoop-shaped lower end portion having arcuate andflat portionsat opposite ends, said arcuate portionbeing at its juncture with said terial of essentially uniform thickness including a'vertically extending main body portion having a scoop-shaped lower end portion provided on its lower end providing an upwardly inclined surface overwhich parts may be draggedprior to being engaged with the main body portion, an upper end portion provided on its upper end and angled flanges turned awayfrom opposite edges of said main body portion for engagement in a slot on a parts bin, said scoop-shaped lower end portionhaving arcuate and flat portions at opposite ends, said arcuate portion being at its juncture with said main body portionandsaid flat portion being for engagement with a bottom of a parts bin, said scoop-shaped lower ,endportion being flexible from a scoop shape into an essentially flat form to facilitate assembly of the divider with a par-tsbin. L

3. A parts bin divider comprised of athin gauge spring steel material of essentiallyuniform thickness including a vertically extending mainbody portion having a scoopshaped lower end portion provided on its lower end providing an upwardly inclined surface over which parts may be dragged prior to being engaged with said mainbody portion, and an upper end portion provided on its upper end, the scoop-shaped lower end portion being deformable into an essentially flat conformation to facilitate assembly with a parts bin drawer and being resilient for movement back into a scoop shape when assembly is completed.

4. In combination, a parts bin and a parts bin divider,

said divider being comprised of a thin gauge spring steel material of essentially uniform thickness including a vertically extending main body portion having a scoopshaped lower end portion provided on its lower end providing an upwardly inclined surface over which parts may be dragged prior to being engaged with the main body portion, and an upper end portion provided on its upper end, said bin having side walls with transversely aligned pairs of guides with the transversely aligned guides having slots therebetween, said divider having side edges engaged in said slots on a parts bin, the scoop-shaped lower end portion being deformable into an essentially flat form while being moved vertically between said transversely aligned guides to facilitate assembly with said parts bin drawer and being resilient for movement back into a scoop shape when assembly is completed.

5. In combination, a parts bin and a parts bin divider, said divider being comprised of a thin gauge spring steel material of essentially uniform thickness including a vertically extending main body portion having a scoop-shaped lower end portion provided on its lower end providing an upwardly inclined surface over which parts may be dragged prior to being engaged with the main body portion, and an upper end portion provided on its upper end, said bin having side walls with transversely aligned pairs of guides with the transversely aligned guides having slots therebetween, said divider having side edges engaged in said slots on a parts bin, the scoop-shaped lower end portion being deformable into an essentially flat form while being moved vertically between said transversely aligned guides to facilitate assembly with said parts bin drawer and being resilient for movement back into a scoop shape when assembly is completed, said scoop-shaped lower end portion having arcuate and flat portions at opposite ends, said arcuate portion being at its juncture with said main body port-ion and said flat portion being engageable with a bottom of said parts bin.

6. In combination, a parts bin and a parts bin divider, said divider being comprised of a thin gauge spring steel material of essentially uniform thickness including a vertically extending main body portion having a scoopshaped lower end portion provided on its lower end, said bin having side walls with transversely aligned pairs of guides with the transversely aligned guides having slots therebetween, said divider having side edges engaged in said slots on a parts bin, the scoop-shaped lower end porsaid edges and said side walls in said slots for-holding a lower terminal portion of said scoop-shaped lower end portion against a bottom of said bin.

7. In combination a parts bin and a parts bin divider, said divider being comprised of .a thin gauge spring steel --rnaterial of essentially uniform thickness including a vertically extending main body portion having a scoopshaped lower end portion provided onits lower end and an angled indicia bearing upper end portion provided on its upper end, said bin having side walls with transversely aligned pairs of guides with the transversely aligned guides having slots therebetween, said divider havingside edges engaged in said slots on a par-ts bin, the scoop-shaped lower end portion being deformable into an essentially flat form while being moved vertically between said transversely aligned guides to facilitate assem- '.'bly with said parts bin drawer and being resilient for movement back into a scoop shape when assembly is completed, said angled indicia bearing upper end portion extending away from one side of said main body portion and with said scoop-shaped lower end portion extending away from an opposite side of said main body portion.

8. A parts bin divider comprised of a thin gauge material of essentially uniform thickness including a vertically extending main body portion having a scoop-shaped lower end portion provided on its lower end providing an upwardly inclined surface over which parts may be dragged prior to being engaged with the main body portion and angled flanges turned away from opposite side edges of said main body portion for engagement in a slot on a parts bin, recessed areas disposed along opposite side edges of the divider immediately below said angled flanges, the scoop-shaped lower end portion being deformable into an essentially flat conformation to facilitate assembly with a parts bin drawer and being resilient for movement back into a scoop shape when assembly is completed.

9. In combination a parts bin and a parts bin divider, said divider being comprised of a thin gauge material of essentially uniform thickness including a vertically extending main body portion having a scoop-shaped lower end portion provided on its lower end providing an upwardly inclined surface over which parts may be dragged prior to being engaged with the main body portion and angled flanges turned away from opposite side edges of said main body portion, means on side walls of said bin defining slots, said divider having vertical side edges inset relative to said angled flanges to provide clearance for assembly and disassembly of said angled flanges with respect to said slots.

10. In combination a parts bin and a parts bin divider, said divider being comprised of a thin gauge material of essentially uniform thickness including a vertically extending main body portion having a scoop-shaped lower end portion provided on its lower end providing an up wardly inclined surface over which parts may be dragged prior to being engaged with the main body portion and angled flanges turned away from opposite side edges of said main body portion, means on side walls of said bin defining slots, said divider having vertical side edges inset relative to said angled flanges to provide clearance for assembly and disassembly of said angled flanges with respect to said slots, the transverse distance between said angled flanges being in excess of the transverse width of said scoop-shaped lower end portion. a

11. The combination of claim 10 further characterized by said main body portion having an indicia bearing flange angled upwardly andaway from the main body portion on the same side of the main body portion as the scoopshaped lower end portion, said indicia bearing flange having means for securing the indicia thereon.

12. The combination of claim 10 further characterized by said main body portion having an indicia bearing flange angled away from said main bodyportion, the indicia bearing flange having means for securing indicia thereon, the scoop-shaped lower end portion being disposed on one side of said mainbody portion and said indicia bearing flange disposed on an opposite side thereof.

13, In combination, a parts bin and a parts bin divider, saiddivider being comprised of a thin gauge spring steel material of essentially uniform thickness including a yertically extending main body portion having a scoop-shaped lower end portion provided on its lower end providing an upwardly inclined surface over which parts may be dragged prior to being engaged with the main body portion, said bin having side wallswithtransversely aligned pairs of guides with the transversely aligned guides having slots therebetween, said divider having side edges engaged in said slots on a parts bin, the scoop-shaped lower end portion being deformable into an essentially flat for m while being moved vertically between said transversely '8 aligned guides to facilitate assembly with said parts bin drawer and being resilient for movement back into a scoop shape when assembly is completed, and means coacting between said edges and said side walls in said slots for holding a lower terminal .portion of said scoop-shaped .lower end portion against a bottom of said bin.

14. The combination of claim 4 further characterized by said main body portion having under-cut areas positioned immediately below said side. edges of said divider forenabling a lower end of the divider to be moved vertically free of the side walls of the parts bin.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS FRANK B. SHERRY, Primary Examiner. CHANCELLOR E. HARRIS, Examiner. 

1. A PARTS BIN DIVIDER COMPRISED OF A THIN GAUGE MATERIAL OF ESSENTIALLY UNIFORM THICKNESS INCLUDING A VERTICALLY EXTENDING MAIN BODY PORTION HAVING A SCOOP-SHAPED LOWER END PORTION PROVIDED ON ITS LOWER END PROVIDING AN UPWARDLY INCLINED SURFACE OVER WHICH PARTS MAY BE DRAGGED PRIOR TO BEING ENGAGED WITH THE MAIN BODY PORTION, AN ANGLED INDICIA BEARING UPPER END PORTION PROVIDED ON ITS UPPER END AND ANGLED FLANGES TURNED AWAY FROM OPPOSITE SIDE EDGES OF SAID MAIN BODY PORTION FOR ENGAGEMENT IN A SLOT ON A PARTS BIN, SAID SCOOP-SHAPED LOWER END PORTION HAVING ARCUATE AND FLAT PORTIONS AT OPPOSITE ENDS, SAID ARCUATE PORTION BEING AT ITS JUNCTURE WITH SAID MAIN BODY PORTION AND SAID FLAT PORTION BEING FOR ENGAGEMENT WITH A BOTTOM OF A PARTS BIN. 